3.5 out of 10 people are Christian in Kalamazoo,MI

Did some research today about Kalamazoo and its population over the past 2 years

• Depending on where you get your information - there is roughly 72,000-77,000 people living in Kalamazoo, MI
• The Median age is 26.1 years (U.S. average is 35.3)
• Of the 70,000+ people in Kzoo - 54,000 are white (70.8%---U.S average is 75.1%) and 15,000 are black (20.6%---U.S. average is 12.3%)
• Median Family Income is $42,438 (U.S. average is $50,046)
• In Kalamazoo 16,641 live below poverty (24.3% compared to the U.S. average of 12.4%)
• The percentage of Christians in Kzoo is 35.3% - that means roughly 25,000-27,000 are Christians
• Kzoo has between 47,000-50,000 non-Christians
• The average population density is 2,950 people per square mile - so within 1 mile of West Kalamazoo Christian church (or anywhere in the city) there are roughly 1,905 non-Christians.
• If 1% of those non-Christians living within 1 mile of WestK came to church next week, we would have 19 new people.  If 5% of the non-Christians living withing 1 mile of WestK came we would grow attendance by 95 people.

Matthew 9:37-38
"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore to send out workers into his harvest field."



http://www.city-data.com/city/Kalamazoo-Michigan.html
http://www.americantowns.com/mi/kalamazoo-information#data
http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&pctxt=fph&_lang=en&_sse=on&geo_id=16000US2642160&_state=04000US26

Matthew 15:21-28

Reading today Matthew chapter 15.  What really stood out to me was versus 21-28.  This is where a Canaanite woman requests Jesus to heal her daughter from demonic possession.  At first Jesus doesn't respond to the woman and the disciples then request Jesus to send her away.  My study bible notes say the following:

"... It is possible to become so occupied with spiritual matters that we miss real needs right around us.  This is especially likely if we are prejudiced against needy people or if they cause us inconvenience.  Instead of being bothered, be aware of the opportunities that surround you."

Great Stuff!

Had a friend send me this article about kids dressing too sexy, not just for their age, but the fact that they are doing it at all.  The one thing this article points out that I didn't acknowldge in previous things I have read on the topic before was the question "Who is buying the clothes for these children?"  The answer is very much common sense, but when you think about it - very sad.  The answer - parents.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/04/19/granderson.children.dress/index.html

A few weeks ago WestK student ministries took 15 high school students to the Michigan Statewide Teen Convention in Lansing, MI.  This was a great weekend of worship with the Jordan Howerton Band, messages brought to us by Jason Miller, and just a lot of fun and group building time throughout the weekend.  It was great to have Angie and Jerry Phelps as well as Kim and Jared Stauffer accompany us for this weekend.

It is duing events like these that I believe the student ministry has a chance to really grow in its unity.  I love to sit back and watch out adult volunteers engage in discussions with students.  Don't get me wrong, we have a ton of fun.  But the relationships that are built on events like these bring our group closer together as well as the trust between adults and students. 

On April 3rd, I will be preaching about the importance of youth ministry in our church and community.  To sum it all up in one word - "relationships."  Hope to see ya there!

WestK Student Ministry exists to:
REACH non-believing students (Lk 19:10)
CONNECT them with other Christians (Eph 2:19)
Help them GROW in their faith (Heb 6:1)
Challenge them to GO where God leads (Jn 12:26)